Sikh leader is trustee of CPWR

A US based Sikh leader has been nominated trustee of the Council for Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR).

Dr Tarunjit Singh, chair of the Interfaith Committee of the World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR), was nominated to the council that aims to cultivate harmony among the world's religious and spiritual communities.

"Now more than ever, the world needs the wisdom and energy of people of faith, spirit, and goodwill to be working for peace, justice, and sustainability. We look forward to a partnership with you in making this indispensable contribution possible," Rev Dirk Ficca, executive director of CPWR, said.

Singh, research scientist at the Ohio State University, remarked, "I look forward to working with fellow trustees to promote interfaith respect and understanding in a world that is being increasingly polarised along ethnic, religious, nationalistic, and class boundaries."

CPWR was set up to organise the centennial celebration of the 1893 World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago, most remembered for Swami Vivekananda's electrifying speech.

The council has organised the parliament at Chicago (1993), Cape Town (1999), and Barcelona (2004). The next parliament will be held in Melbourne in December 2009.

The idea to form WSC-AR, a representative body of Sikh gurdwaras and other institutions in the US, was proposed by Sikh participants at the 1993 meet in Chicago.